Now that Nawaki had come to terms with it, everyone was happy. On New Year's Day, Hayama had sent Hashirama a text message from his phone.
He had told him a little about how he was doing, and that Nawaki had given up looking for them.
Hashirama had realized then that Nawaki might be coming back, but he hadn't expected it to happen so soon.
They only heard from him once a year, and that was all he'd said. Hashirama had been rather upset, but gradually accepted it.
Perhaps he and Hayama were fated to share only a brief father-son bond. From the moment Hayama left the Senju Compound,
their lives had had little to do with each other.
Hashirama had slowly come to accept that, too.
But he had made peace with it now. He and Mito were doing well together, and that was what mattered most.
Hayama's choice of lifestyle had a lot to do with the way Hashirama had raised him when he was young, so Hashirama didn't blame him.
Instead, he kept reflecting on his own failings. After taking Torifu as his disciple, he had corrected all the mistakes in his old approach to raising children.
Torifu was practically like a son to him now, but Hayama would always remain a scar in Hashirama's heart.
He and his wife had eaten the Life Fruit, so they would live much longer. Perhaps they might even see the day Hayama returned to the village with his wife.
Hashirama treated that possibility as a small hope and didn't dwell on it too much.
If it came true, it would be a wonderful blessing. If it didn't, Hashirama wouldn't rail against fate.
Hashirama was still very happy that Nawaki had come home today. In fact, the entire Senju Compound was